Pane securing means



Sept. 6, 1938.

' E. BUGATTI PANE'SECURING MEANS Filed March 12, 1936 Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,129,404 PANE SECURING MEANS Ettore Bugatti, Molsheim, France Application March 12, 1936, Serial 'No. 68,525 In France March 23, 1935 17 Claims;

The present invention relatesto devices for the fixation, in their support, such for instance as a frame having a recess, of flat elements such as glass panes, panels of any kind, etc. In order to simplify the description of the invention, I will simply refer, in the following specification, to panes-but it should be well understood that this term is to be taken in its most generic meaning, including all fiat elements as above referred to.

The object of the present invention is to provide a securing means of the kind above referred to which is better adapted to meet the requirements of practice than similar devices used for the same purpose up to this time.

The essential feature of the invention is as follows: The pane is elastically carried in its support owing to the fact that its edges are held between two elastic elements one of which consists of clips adapted to be elastically loosened or tightened for the mounting and the removal. In other words, the pane is caught by its edges in an elastic channel-shaped structure which runs along the whole or the part of its-periphery and one of the edges of which (either practically continuous or on the contrary provided only at certain places) can be temporarily deformed so as to permit of fitting in position or removing the pane, this channel-shaped structure being fixed to the support of the system.

It follows that it is possible to hide, inside the channel-shaped structure or between the two elastic elements, the fixation members which connect this channel-shaped structure of these elements to said support, whereby I obtain a system which is very neat and of an agreeable appearance.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention,

the edges of the pane are inserted in an elastic peripheric sheath, for instance of india-rubber, which, on one side, is applied against a projecting part of the recess or support in which the pane is to be fitted, and, on the other side, is applied against a removable locking frame held'in position by the above mentioned clips. In a modifi cation, the elastic sheath, instead of bearing directly against the edge of the recess or support,

is applied against an auxiliary frame fitted in said recess and which can eventually be rigid with 50 the elastic clips serving to maintain the removable locking frame. This auxiliary frame serving to maintain the pane may be elastic. When the clips are rigid with the elastic sheath, the pane is doubly maintained in an elastic manner, since 55 it is fitted in a channel-shaped structure holding the peripheral sheath which, in turn, tightly surrounds the edges of the pane.

It should be noted that the elastic material, if it is plastic and capable of resisting the action of weather, has the advantage of forming a fiuid- 5 tight packing and opposing the passage of humidity and air draughts, which is important if the pane is a glass pane for a buildingor vehicle window. Owing to its elasticity, the material in question absorbs the shocks that might otherwise 10 be transmitted to the glass pane, which prevents the pane from being broken if the latter is fragile, and it deadens the disagreeable noise and rattling that would occur, for instance on a vehicle, if the pane were directly in contact with supporting 1 metal parts. In some cases, or for reasons of simplicity or economy, it is possible to admit some of the draw-' backs just above mentioned (as far as they may occur) and I make use of the following arrange- 20 ment, which is within-the scope of the invention: The edges of the pane are caught between the elastic flanges of a channel-shaped structure fixed in the recess or support above referred to, and one of these flanges of the channel, which 25 is split at least at the corners of the frame, is sufficiently elastic for permitting to move it out of the way for inserting or removing the pane. With this embodiment of the invention, I keep the advantage of having a structure which is 30 -neat since I can hide inside the channel-shaped structure the screw, nail, or bolt heads, the welds and any other parts of irregular appearance, serving to the fixation to the support.

Other features of the present invention will be 35 hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, given merely by way of example, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view onthe line l--l of Fig. 2; this figure showing a portion of a glass 40 pane fixed in the recess of a window;

Fig. 2 is a corresponding perspective view with some parts cut away;

Figs. 3 and 4 show, in the same manner as Fig. 1, two other embodiments of the securing means according to the present invention.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the glass pane l (or any other pane), surrounded by a sheath 2, of an elastic material (India rubber for instance), is fitted in a housing provided in the frame 3 of a window. This sheath may be provided with an inner recess I0, which improves its elasticity. Against the edge or rabbet 4 of this housing, there are fixed elastic tongues 5, with free outer ends forming hooks 6. These hooks or "clips maintain a frame I, which is slightly larger than the glass pane and which exerts, once in position, an elastic pressure on glass pane I through the sheath 2 which surrounds it.

Frame 1 constitutes a pressure distributing and locking element which prevents the glass pane from leaving its housing because it is elastically held between the hook 6 of tongue 5 and sheath 2, tongue 5 further exerting an elastic thrust in the direction of arrow A.

In order to insert glass pane l in its housing, after having previously fitted said glass pane with its elastic sheath 2, tongues 5 are elastically deformed in the direction opposed to that of arrow A, by means of a suitable tool. In order to facilitate the insertion into position without any tool, frame I is provided with an inner bevel, at an angle of about 45. It suffices to push it upwardly (in the case illustrated by Fig. 1) and it first moves away tongues 5 then releases them, which then hold it in position by means of hooks 6. If need be a groove 8 is provided in frame I, so as to avoid any slipping of hooks 6 with respect to said frame.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the device above described. In this embodiment, the elastic sheath 2 is held between an elastic tongue 9, which may be integral with tongue 5, and frame I. Said elastic tongue 9 is inserted in the housing for the glass pane and makes an angle of with tongue 5. In the specific embodiment illustrated by Fig. 3, these two tongues consist of the flanges of a U-shaped piece or channel, which runs along the whole periphery of the glass pane.

Fig. 4 shows a simplified embodiment which is advantageously employed for panes which are not so fragile as glass panes. The pane itself is provided with an internal bevel, so as to replace frame 1?.

Of course, a frame similar to element 1 might also be employed with an arrangement of the kind of that illustrated by Fig. 4, and both this frame and the pane would be bevelled. I might also interpose an elastic material between such a frame and the pane and possibly fix this elastic material to the frame. I may also, in the case of Fig. 4, make use of two similar frames, disposed each on one side of said pane.

In a general way, while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be practical and efficient embodiments of the present invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition, and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a construction of the type described, the combination of a frame, a pane mounted therein,

resilient means interposed between a face of said pane and said frame for backing said pane yieldingly against flatwise pressure, and snap-on means secured to the frame adapted to be forced elastically away from the edge of said pane in a direction parallel to the pane, for holding said pane against the first mentioned means.

2. In a construction of the type, described, the combination of a frame, a pane mounted therein, resilient means interposed between a face of said pane and said frame, for backing said pane yieldingly against fiatwise pressure, a substantially inextensible resilient retainer having a beaded edge for engaging operatively the other face of said pane and holding the pane against said means, said retainer being, disposed substantially 3. In a construction of the type described, the combination of a pane; a frame having a peripheral recess for accommodating said pane in a sunken position; cushioning means interposed between said pane and said frame in said recess for backing said pane against flatwise pressure; substantially-inextensible retaining means accommodated in said recess, having operative engagement with the pane, for drawing the latter into the recess against said cushioning means, said retaining means'being adapted to yield elastically in a direction parallel to the plane, whereby the pane may be snapped in position; and means also accommodated in said recess for fastening said retaining means to said frame.

4. In a construction of the type described, the combination of a frame; a pane mounted therein; a cushioning and clamping device for resilientlysupporting said pane in said frame, the device including a resilient cushioning element adapted to provide a yieldable backing for the pane with respect to fiatwise motion and a reclose an edge of the pane and to keep it spaced from the frame; and means for fastening said device to said frame.

5. In a construction of the type described, a frame having a recess of angular cross section; a pane mounted in said frame, an angular pane retainer fitted into said angular recess, including two integral resilient wings and adapted to house an edge of said pane, one of the wings having operative contact with a face of the pane so as to provide a resilient backing therefor, while the other wing has an inwardly projecting bead ope1-. atively engaging the other face of said pane for retaining the pane edge in said angular retainer and is disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of the pane; and means for fastening the retainer to said frame.

6. The combination of claim 5, the recess in said frame being limited by angularly disposed surfaces, the remote edges of which are cut away in order to permit substantial flexure of said resilientwings.

'7. In a construction of the type described the combination of a frame having a rabbet; a resilient metal strip of angular cross section having two wings, the apex of the angular strip being located at the rear portion of the rabbet and one of the wings projecting inwardly away from the rabbet, while the other wing projects forwardly, has its rear portion disposed against the rabbet, and has an inwardly projecting bead; means for securing the second wing to the rabbet, solely along its rear portion so that the front portion may be flexed resiliently; and a pane mounted in said strip, having its rear face in operative engagement with the first wing, and

its front face in operative engagement with the rear face of the pane contacts said wing along its forwardly projecting bead.

9. The combination of claim 7, the pane havbeing snapped into the angular metal strip.

10. In a construction of. the type described, the combination of a frame having an inwardly projecting rear lip defining a recess in said frame; a

pane mounted in the frame, having its edge disposed in overlapping relation with respect to said lip; a resilient and plastic cushion comprising a back portion interposed between the rear face of said pane and said lip, and ,a front portion covering the front face of the pane along its edge; a pressure distributing rigid member disposed against the front portion of the resilient and plastic cushion; inextensible fore-and-aft resilient means housed in said recess, for pressing said member against said cushion; and means located solely at the back part of said recess, for fastening said inextensible resilient means to said frame.

11. In a construction of the type described, the

combination of a pane; a strip of resilient and platic material folded in U-formation over the edge of the pane, said strip having beaded portions along both edges so as to form two outwardly projecting lips at the ends of the U legs; a frame for accommodating the edge of the pane, having a rear internal flange which provides a seating portionadapted to engage the rear leg of the U strip for backing said strip and said pane against flatwise motion, and a second seating, portion adapted to engage the beaded portion of the same leg of the U, for holding said strip and said pane against edgewisemotion; a pressure distributing rigid band adapted to engage operatively the front leg of the U strip and the front beaded portion of the same, said band having a front groove; a resilient tongue having a front hook adapted to engage said groove, the tongue extending in a front-rear direction to a point adjacent the flange of the frame; and means located adjacent said flange for fastening said tongue to said frame.

12. In a construction of the type described, the combination of a frame having a rabbet and an inwardly projecting flange at the rear part of said rabbet, with aresilient, pane retainer having its rear edge attached to said rabbet and a freely flexible front portion provided with a beaded front edge, said retainer being positioned in a. transverse direction with respect to the frame whereby a pane may be inserted into and retained within the zone bounded by the flange, the retainer and the beaded edge.

13. In a construction of the type described, the combination of a frame having a rabbet, the front part of which flares outwardly, and an inwardly projecting flange disposed at the rear part of the rabbet, a resilient metal band secured to the frame and including two wings angularly disposed, one of the wings being applied against the front face of said flange and projecting inwardly beyond the same, while the of the pane, having its rear other wing is applied against the rear part of the rabbet and projects forwardly beyond the same as a freely flexible tongue having a beaded front edge, whereby a pane may be inserted into and retained within the metal band.

14. In a construction of th type described, the combination of a frame having a rabbet and an inwardly projecting flange at the rear part of said rabbet; a resilient pane retainer having a rear portion attached tosaid rabbet and freely flexible front portion having a beaded front edge,

said retainer being positioned in a transverse direction with respect to the frame; a pane mounted on said frame between said flange and said beaded edge; a resilient and plastic cushion enclosing the edge of said pane and covering both front face and rear face of the pane along said edge, the rear portion of the cushion being in contact with said flange along its front face; and a locking rigid band operatively interposed between said beaded edge and the front portion of said cushion.

- 15. In a construction of the type described the combination of a frame having a rabbet; a resilient metal band secured to the frame and including two wings. angularly disposed, one of thewings projecting inwardly, away from the rabbet while the second wing has a beaded front edge and projects forwardly as a freely flexible hook; a pane mounted on the frame with its edge inserted between the first wing and the beaded edge of the second wing; a U-shaped elastic and plastic strip disposed around said edge portion in contact with the first wing; and allocking element interposed between said beaded edge and the front portion of the U-shaped strip, for holding the pane against forward flatwise motion.

16. A marginal encasing structure for removably retaining a pane along the edges thereof, which comprises. a stationary abutment substantially parallel with the plane of the pane; a movable abutment spaced apart from the stationary abutment, also substantially parallel with the plane of the pane; and inextensible, resilient, spacing means, extending in a direction substantially at right angles to the plane of the pane, anchored to the stationary abutment, for connecting the movable abutment with the stationary abutment.

17. A marginal encasing structure for removably retaining a pane along the edges thereof, which comprises a stationary abutment substantially parallel with the plane of the pane and an lnextensible, resilient tongue attached to the stationary abutment, freely projecting from the same substantially at right angles to the plane of the pane and having at its free end away from the stationary abutment, a catch adapted to retain the pane against flat wise pressure.

ETIORE BUGA'I'I'I. 

